| Zeng Guofan | |
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| In office 1865 – 1870 |
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| Preceded by | Guan Wen |
| Succeeded by | Li Hongzhang |
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| Born | November 21, 1811 Xiangxiang, Hunan |
| Died | March 12, 1872 (aged 60) |
| Occupation | Politician |
Zeng Guofan (traditional Chinese: 曾國藩; simplified Chinese: 曾国藩; Pinyin: Zēng Guófán, Wade-Giles: Tseng Kuo-fan, Styled Bóhán 伯函 and variably Díshēng 滌生; Posthumous name: Wenzheng 文正; created Marquess Yiyong of the First Class 勇毅一等候) (November 21, 1811 – March 12, 1872) was an eminent Han Chinese official, military general, and devout Confucian scholar of the late Qing Dynasty in China. The Viceroy of Zhílì (直隸總督/直隶总督 fully referred to as the Governor General of Zhili and surrounding areas Overseeing Military Affairs Food Production Manager Li Hongzhang, Marquis Suyi of the First Class, GCVO, ( February 15, 1823 &ndash November 7, 1901) was a Chinese Events 164 BC - Judas Maccabaeus, son of Mattathias of the Hasmonean family restores the Temple in Jerusalem. Year 1811 ( MDCCCXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Xiangxiang ( Chinese: 湘乡 Pinyin: Xiāngxiāng is a County-level city in Xiangtan, Hunan Province. ( is a province of China, located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting (hence the name Hunan, meaning Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving Year 1872 ( MDCCCLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year A politician (from Greek " Polis " is an individual who is involved in influencing public decision making through the influence of Politics or a person Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use Wade-Giles (ˌweɪdˈʤaɪlz) sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a Romanization system (phonetic notation and Transcription) for the Mandarin A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name ( zì) is a given name to be used later in life A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty nobles and sometimes others in some cultures after the person's death Events 164 BC - Judas Maccabaeus, son of Mattathias of the Hasmonean family restores the Temple in Jerusalem. Year 1811 ( MDCCCXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving Year 1872 ( MDCCCLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Han Chinese ( are an Ethnic group native to China and by most modern definitions the largest single Ethnic group in the world. Confucianism ( is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system originally developed from the teachings of the fifth century B Not to be confused with Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of Imperial China He raised the Xiang Army to fight effectively against the Taiping Rebellion and restored the stability of Qing Dynasty along with other prominent figures, including Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang, setting the scene for the era later known as the "Tongzhi Restoration"（同治中兴）. The Taiping Rebellion or Rebellion of Great Peace was a large-scale Revolt against the authority and forces of the Qing Government in China Not to be confused with Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of Imperial China Zuǒ Zōngtáng 1st Marquess Kejing of the Second Class ( Courtesy name: Jigao) ( November 10, 1812 - September 5, 1885) spelled Li Hongzhang, Marquis Suyi of the First Class, GCVO, ( February 15, 1823 &ndash November 7, 1901) was a Chinese He was known for his strategic perception, administrative skill and noble personality on Confucianist practice, but also sometimes for his ruthlessness on the execution of his policies. Confucianism ( is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system originally developed from the teachings of the fifth century B Zeng also exemplified loyalty in an era of chaos.
Contents |
Early life
Born a native of Xiangxiang, Hunan (湘乡) in 1811, Zeng Zicheng (曾子城) was the grandson of Zeng Yiping, a prosperous farmer with social and political ambitions. Xiangxiang ( Chinese: 湘乡 Pinyin: Xiāngxiāng is a County-level city in Xiangtan, Hunan Province. ( is a province of China, located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting (hence the name Hunan, meaning He passed the prefectural examination in 1833, only a year after his father Zeng Linshu (zi. Year 1833 ( MDCCCXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name ( zì) is a given name to be used later in life Zhuting). He passed the provincial examination a year later, and by 1838, at age 27, he had successfully passed the metropolitan examinations, a prestigious achievement in China. He had earned the Jinshi degree, the highest level in the civil service examinations, which led to his appointment to the Hanlin Academy, a body of outstanding Chinese literary scholars who performed literary tasks for the imperial court. The Imperial examinations ( in Imperial China determined who among the population would be permitted to enter the state's Bureaucracy. The Hanlin Academy ( Chinese: 翰林院 Pinyin: Hànlín Yuàn, literally "brush wood court" was founded in China by Emperor It was at Hanlin where he changed his name to Zeng Guofan, which sounded more prestigious. Zeng served in Beijing for more than 13 years, and remained devoted to the interpretation of the Confucian Classics. Chinese classic texts or Chinese canonical texts ( refer to the pre- Qin Chinese texts especially the Confucian Four Books and Five Classics He moved relatively quickly up the ranks, advancing to 2nd-Pin in five years.
Entry into imperial politics
In 1843, he was appointed chief literary examiner in the province of Sichuan, and six years later was made Senior Deputy Secretary of the Board of Rites (禮部侍郎). ( Postal map spelling: Szechwan and Szechuan) is a province in western China with its capital in Chengdu. When holding the office of Military Examiner (1851) he was compelled by the death of his mother to retire to his native district for the regulation mourning, which is technically supposed to last three years. At this time the Taiping rebels were overrunning Hunan in their conquering career, and had possessed themselves of the cities and strongholds on both shores of the Yangtze River. The Taiping Rebellion or Rebellion of Great Peace was a large-scale Revolt against the authority and forces of the Qing Government in China By a special decree, Zeng was ordered to assist the governor of the province in raising a volunteer force, and, on his own initiative, he built a fleet of war junks, with which he attacked the rebels. This force eventually became known as Zeng's famous Xiang Army. In his first engagement he was defeated, but his lieutenants were more successful. They recovered the capital, Changsha, and destroyed the rebel fleet. Changsha ( is the Capital city of Hunan, a province of south-central China, located on the lower reaches of Xiang river a branch of the Following up these victories of his subordinates, Zeng recaptured Wuchang and Hanyang, near Hankow, and was rewarded for his success by being appointed vice-president of the Board of War. Wuchang District ( is one of the three towns together with Hankou and Hanyang, which are included in modern day Wuhan, the capital of the Hubei Hankou ( Wade-Giles: Hankow is one of the three towns together with Wuchang and Hanyang, which are included in modern day Wuhan, the capital
Fame and military campaigns
In 1853, other triumphs led to his being made a baturu (a Manchu order for rewarding military prowess), and to his being decorated with a yellow riding-jacket. The Manchu people ( Manchu: Manju;, Mongolian: Манж Russian: Маньчжуры are a Tungusic people who originated in Meanwhile, in his absence, the rebels retook Wuchang and burnt the protecting fleet. The tide quickly turned, however, and Zeng succeeded in clearing the country round the Poyang lake, and subsequently in ridding the province of Jiangsu of the enemy. Lake Poyang ( located in Jiangxi Province is the largest Freshwater Lake in China. ( Postal map spelling: Kiangsu) is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country His father died in 1857, and after a brief mourning he was ordered to take supreme command in Zhejiang, and to co-operate with the governor of Fujian in the defence of that province. Zhejiang ( is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China.
Subsequently, the rebels were driven westwards, and Zeng would have started in pursuit had he not been called on to clear the province of Anhui of rebel bands. Anhui (in Chinese: 安徽 Ānhuī) is a province of the People's Republic of China. In 1860, he was appointed Viceroy of Liangjiang (the provinces of Jiangxi, Anhui, and Jiangsu: 两江总督) and Imperial war commissioner. The Viceroy of Liangjiang (两江总督 fully referred to as the Governor General of the two Yangtze Provinces and surrounding areas Overseeing Military Affairs Food ( Postal map spelling: Kiangsi is a southern province of the People's Republic of China, spanning from the banks of the Yangtze River Anhui (in Chinese: 安徽 Ānhuī) is a province of the People's Republic of China. ( Postal map spelling: Kiangsu) is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country At this time, and for some time previously, he had been fortunate in having the active support of Zuo Zongtang, who at a later period recovered Kashgar for the emperor, and of Li Hongzhang. Zuǒ Zōngtáng 1st Marquess Kejing of the Second Class ( Courtesy name: Jigao) ( November 10, 1812 - September 5, 1885) spelled Kashgar or Kashi (officially transliterated as Kaxgar in Uyghur; قەشقەر/K̡ǝxk̡ǝr, is an Oasis Li Hongzhang, Marquis Suyi of the First Class, GCVO, ( February 15, 1823 &ndash November 7, 1901) was a Chinese Like all true leaders of men, he knew how to reward good service, and when occasion offered he appointed the former to the governorship of Zhejiang and the latter to that of Jiangsu. In 1862, he was appointed assistant grand secretary of state. At this time, the Imperial forces, assisted by the "Ever-victorious Army," had checked the progress of the rebellion, and Zeng was able to carry out a scheme which he had long formulated of besieging Nanjing, the rebel headquarters. The Third Battle of Nanking was the last major engagement of the Taiping Rebellion, occurring in 1864 after the death of the king of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Hong While Charles George Gordon of the Ever-victorios army, with the help of Li Hongzhang, was clearing the cities on the lower waters of the Yangtze River, Zeng drew closer his besieging lines around the city. Major-General, CB ( 28 January 1833 &ndash 26 January 1885) known as Chinese Gordon, Gordon Pasha Li Hongzhang, Marquis Suyi of the First Class, GCVO, ( February 15, 1823 &ndash November 7, 1901) was a Chinese
In July 1864, Nanjing fell into his hands, and he was rewarded with the rank and title of Marquess (of the First Class) Yiyong (毅勇候) and the right to wear the double-eyed peacock's feather (雙眼花翎). ( Chinese: 南京 Romanizations Nánjīng ( Pinyin) Nan-ching ( Wade-Giles After the suppression of the Taiping Rebellion, the Nian Rebellion (捻軍起義), closely related to the former movement, broke out in Shandong, and Zeng was sent to quell it. The Nien Rebellion ( Western historians have traditionally used the Wade-Giles transcription "Nien" rather than Hanyu Pinyin "Nian" was an epic armed uprising that ( is a coastal province of eastern People's Republic of China.
Success did not, however, always attend him on this campaign, and by Imperial order he was relieved of his command by Li Hongzhang, who in the same way succeeded him in the viceroyalty of Zhili, where, after the Tianjin Massacre (1870), Zeng failed to carry out the wishes of his Imperial master. ( Postal map spelling: Hopeh) is a northern province of the People's Republic of China. The Tianjin Massacre ( Chinese: 天津教案 Pinyin: Tiānjīn Jiào'àn occurred in Tianjin in 1870 Instead of the desired policy towards foreigners, Zeng took on a more diplomatic stance. After this rebuff, he retired to his viceroyalty at Nanjing, where he died in 1872.
Family & Personal
Zeng was a voluminous writer. His papers addressed to the throne and his literary disquisitions are held in high esteem by the scholars of China, who treasure as the edition of his collected works in 156 books, which was edited by Li Hongzhang in 1876, as a memorial of a great and un-corrupt statesman. Zeng enjoyed reading greatly, and held a special interest in the 23 Histories, and other classics. He was also a dedicated poet.
Unlike his contemporaries, Zeng was officially married only once, to a woman of the Ouyang family when he was in his late teens. Ouyang ( also spelled Owyang, Au Yong, Auyong, Auyang, Au Yeung, Au Ieong, Ao Ieong, Oyong, His wife was known to be a capable woman. He had 3 sons and 5 daughters with her, and two of his eldest children died young. His eldest son, Zeng Jize, who inherited his title of First Class Marquess, went on to become a famous diplomat in late-Qing history.
His younger brother, Zeng Guoquan, was an ambitious general in the Xiang Army. He was later appointed Viceroy of Liangjiang (the provinces of Jiangxi, Anhui, and Jiangsu: 两江总督) in 1884.
Opinion & Legacy
Zeng Guofan's legacy in history is twofold. On one hand he is criticized as a staunchly conservative traitor, but on another he is seen as a hero in preserving order and stability. Many in China and abroad admire his ability to successfully survive in the ruthless late-Qing bureaucracy. Not to be confused with Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of Imperial China Some have blamed Zeng for all the civilian losses and damages done during the Taiping Rebellion, while others criticize him for being too friendly with certain foreign ideas. The Taiping Rebellion or Rebellion of Great Peace was a large-scale Revolt against the authority and forces of the Qing Government in China
Since the Cultural Revolution, the criticism of Zeng gradually began to disappear. The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in the People’s Republic of China was a struggle for power within the Communist Party of China that manifested into Chinese author Tang Haoming published in 1992 his three-book trilogy Zeng Guofan, a novelization of Zeng's life during and after the Taiping Rebellion. This trilogy characterized Zeng as a common person, but had adopted a much more positive view of Zeng. Both Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek have praised Zeng's ability in military and political affairs. Mao Zedong ( 26 December 1893 – 9 September 1976) was a Chinese Military and political leader who led Chiang Kai-shek ( POJ: Chiúⁿ Kài-se̍k Jyutping: zoeng2gaai3sek6 GCB ( October 31, 1887 &ndash Especially in recent years, Zeng Guofan's life and his works have been the topic of many new publications. Zeng's leadership and military skills had been used by many as a new field of thought aiding in business or bureaucratic dealings.
References
- Hummel, Arthur William, ed. Arthur William Hummel Sr ( March 6, 1884 &ndash March 10, 1975) was a Christian missionary to China noted Sinologist Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period (1644-1912). 2 vols. Washington: United States Government Printing Office, 1943.
- Porter, Jonathan. Tseng Kuo-Fan's Private Bureaucracy. Berkeley: University of California, 1972.
- Wright, Mary Clabaugh. The Last Stand of Chinese Conservatism: The T'ung-Chih Restoration, 1862 -1874. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1957.
External links
- Supressor of the Taiping Rebellion: Hakka Zeng Guofan
- (Chinese) Tang Haoming's Three-Book Trilogy of Zeng Guofan's life 《曾国藩》
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by He Guiqing |
Viceroy of Liangjiang(1st time) 1860–1864 |
Succeeded by Ma Xinyi |
| Preceded by Guan Wen (acting) |
Viceroy of Zhili 1865–1870 |
Succeeded by Li Hongzhang |
| Preceded by Ma Xinyi |
Viceroy of Liangjiang(2nd time) 1870–1872 |
Succeeded by He Jing |
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